Bunion protector



Oct. 27, 1925.

..-F.. H. JENSEN .BUNION PROTECTOR Filed April 11. 1924 [awe n r,

Frank H. Jensen,-

CL rney.

Patented Get. 27, 1925.

UNlTED STATES FRANK H. JENSEN, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUNION PROTECTOR.

Application filed April 11, 1924. Serial No. 705,828.

To all whoa? it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. JENsnN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Everett, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBunion Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

The object of this invention is the construction of an economical andsimple but effective device for protecting the joint of the large toe ofa persons foot, and for curing any enlargement and bunions thereat.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of an orthopedic appliance embodying my in vention.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view onthe line 3-3 in Fig. 4. Fig. i is a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

The pad 1 consists of two layers of imitation chamois 2 or othersuitable fabric or fine skin, stitched together near their edges, as at3, and holding between them a layer of soft felt 4, or other yieldingmaterial. The shape of the pad is oblong, being approximately asemi-ellipse at one end, and having at the other end the pocket for thebig toe.

Through all three 1ayers 2 and 4 is an aperture 5 preferably circularand somewhat larger in the fabrics 2 than in the felt 4 in order toreduce any possible sharpness of edge where the hole touches the side ofthe foot.

The pocket consists of a length of tape 6 stitched to the end of thepad, and having two other lengths of tape 7 and 9 stitched at their endsto the tape 6 and crossing at their midlengths where they are stitchedtogether, each tape 7 and 9 being approximately U-shaped.

To the inside of this pocket and attached to the intersection of thetapes 7, 9, as by cement, is a small pad of felt 10, the same beingpreferably the section cut from the felt 4 in the formation of theaperture 5.

The purpose of the pad 10 is to bear against the end of the toe in thepocket and thereby to ensure against irritation thereof.

These appliances are preferably made in rights and lefts in order thatthe substantially straight edge 11 of each pad may rest upon the shoesole, or, rather, on the stockmg portion which. comes against the sole.

In applying the devices to the foot, the pocket 12 is slipped on overthe toe of the foot, with the straight edge of the pad downward, and theaperture 5 as near central of the joint of the big toe as it will come,different sizes being manufactured for different sizes of feet. Thenthestocking is drawn onto the foot and the boot or shoe fastened up. Thebunion or other tender part of the joint thus comes within the aperture5 and is shielded by the yielding wall of felt and fabric surroundingit.

As is evident, this appliance is comparatively inexpensive, has nometallic or un yielding parts to irritate, and is at the same timeeffective in the performance of its desired work.

What I claim as my invention is:

A bunion protector comprising a yielding pad, a section of tape stitchedto an end thereof to form the opening of a pocket, two sections of tapestitched at their ends to the first-named tape and crossing each otherand stitched together at their midlengths, and a so yielding padattached to their midlengths and standing at substantially a right angleto the general length of the pocket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto setmy hand this 5 9th day of April, 1924.

FRANK H. JENSEN.

